The removing of the two-term limit for China’s president has sparked a wide-ranging debate regarding the nationality and foreign assets of its leaders.

Outsiders speculate that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has two major secrets that the regime seems to be withholding from the public:

The disclosure of nationality by members of the CCP

The declaration of assets by all members of the CCP

The following is what some believe are the reasons why the CCP is harboring such secrets.

Zhu Zhengfu’s proposal

On March 4, 2018, it was reported in Chinese media that Zu Zhengfu, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice Chairman of the All China Lawyers Association, suggested that amending Article 9 of China’s Nationality Law would allow Chinese with a foreign nationality to keep their Chinese nationality as well. Currently, it is stated that:

“Any Chinese national who has settled abroad and who has been naturalized as a foreign national or has acquired the foreign nationality of his own free will shall automatically lose his Chinese nationality.”

The reaction

After Zhu Zhengfu’s proposal was out, a growing sentiment of concern became loud. It was feared that there were members in the legislature of parliament who were not of Chinese nationality.

The legislature of parliament is comprised of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC, which is considered the most powerful political advisory body.

In 2012, Hong Kong media quoted sources in Beijing regarding a February 2011 survey conducted by the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which stated:

“It was determined that 76.77% of the representatives in the NPC and 57.47% of the representatives in the CPPCC have foreign passports. If one were to interpret the survey data, then the Chinese people are represented by (a number of) foreign citizens.”

Outsiders speculate that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has two major secrets that the regime seems to be withholding from the public. (Image: YouTube/Screenshot)

One hand washes the other

According to undisclosable sources, there has been bribing going on among the representatives regarding the admission of new members into the legislative body for some time now. This means that the admission of members into the most powerful political advisory body in China has possibly been handled in a way that has nothing to do with legal government policy in an uncertain amount of cases.

Money secures the post

In China, apparently, with 15 million yuan it is guaranteed that you can be elected into the NPC, and with 25 million yuan you can be elected into the CPPCC!

Those who back the argument that there are far too many foreign citizens holding membership inside the Chinese political ruling body also point to a report issued by the United States government:

“Some 75% of second-generation descendants of Chinese officials with a rank higher than the ministerial level (even those in retirement) have obtained a U.S. green card or citizenship. Furthermore, 91% third generation descendants of Chinese Officials have apparently obtained a U.S. green card or citizenship.”

Conclusion

Those critical of Zhu Zhengfu’s proposal that those who take on a foreign citizenship should also be allowed to hold on to their Chinese citizenship as well fear that the number of foreign citizenship and possibly “foreign interests” holding Chinese members could someday outweigh those who are just Chinese.

According to the evaluation of an unverified, but official Chinese secret investigation:

“During the meetings of the two bodies (the National People’s Congress ‘NPC’, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, ‘CPPCC’) held on that year, of those holding foreign passports and permanent residence, 179 of them are members of the CPPCC and 450 are members of the NPC.”

There are reports of bribery going on among the representatives regarding the admission of new members into the legislative body. (Image: Hermann Rohr/Vision Times)

The 10,000 ‘foreigners’

In September 2013, Hong Kong media revealed that on August 10 of the same year, Beijing authorities issued an emergency secret document revealing that those representatives in the two bodies that hold foreign nationality and permanent resident are more than half, while on the provincial level, there are 10,000 “foreigners.” The Beijing authorities are believed to have concluded that:

“The Chinese (people) are currently led by (a large number of) foreigners.”

The 10,000’s club

Many Chinese people, based on the high estimated number of foreign citizenship holders in places of high ranking political power, have ridiculed China’s top legislative and advisory bodies. A strong opinion among Chinese people is that the international conference of the 10,000’s club held every March is controlled by foreign powers representing the Chinese.

Who dares to disclose?

According to Chinese Netizen posts in forums on the Internet, there are now two sorts of people. Those who are hiding their wealth and those who are keeping their nationality secret:

“Two kinds of people; one who dare not disclose their assets and the other who dare not disclose their nationality!” — Chinese Netizen

The Property Declaration Law

China does have a law that dictates the disclosure of property. In 1994, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress included the Property Declaration Law in the legislative plan. However, until today, no one has seemingly made any effort to implement the law. On the contrary, reports of people being arrested for demanding the disclosure of assets of CCP officials is no secret.

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